Michael Darcy O’Shea

Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. 

Matthew 11: 28 

Michael passed away at noon on November 5th, 2021, with family and his favorite music surrounding him. A special heartfelt thanks is given to the attentive and compassionate 2nd floor, east wing staff in the Benevolence Care Centre, Edmonton. They gave Michael the very best care as he navigated the ever intrusive and debilitating early onset disease, Frontal-temporal Dementia (FTD).  

It is an unfortunate part of life that illness befalls so many wonderful people. Michael was diagnosed with Frontal-temporal Dementia in July of 2014, at the age of 57.  His doctors informed us that he most likely had been living with the mildest symptoms for 5 – 10 years, as he was already displaying moderate symptoms at the time of diagnosis.  In September of 2016, he had degraded from moderate to severe, and was now a threat to his own safety. He required full time care, so was moved to his own apartment in a SL4 unit.  A year later, he was in the hospital and barely survived pneumonia. Michael moved from the hospital to Benevolence Care Centre in December of 2018, where he was cared for like family. 

First FTD took his gentle and caring personality. Next his passion for music was quieted and his guitar strings silenced. Lastly, time would lay an unnatural dust on his hiking boots, and his binoculars would no longer be lifted. Dementia had muted and crumpled our dear Michael, but his eyes still recognized his family, and his fingers would curve to hold our hands. 

Michael was predeceased by his dearly loved parents Louise Marlene O’Shea (1936 – 2019), and Neal Alvin O’Shea (1935 – 2020), a wonderful son-in-law Colin Scott (1978 – 2016); Mother-in-law Sheila Patricia Watson (1935 – 2009) and brother-in-law Donald Roy Harrigan (1969 – 1988)

He will be loved and cherished always by his wife Marie (nee Watson) of 35 years and daughter Kealey (Colin d. 2016) Scott and their children Callum and Saoirse; and daughter Meagan (Craig) Deck and their sons Liam and Gareth.  

He is survived by his sister Maureen (Alistair) Furtado; niece Mandy Reimer (Sheldon) & children; nephew Kevin (Ashley) Reimer & children; niece Kat (Sarah) Furtado; nephew Ryan Furtado; and his sister Kellie (David) Wirzba; nephews Bryce Wirzba;  Brayden (Eden) Wirzba & daughter; and niece Avril Wirzba; Father-in-law Roy Elliot Harrigan; Brother-in-laws Steven (Sheryl) Watson; Geoffrey (Melanie) Watson; Kevin (Kathy) Harrigan and Sister-in-law Jillian Christy; and their many children, and grand children. 

Although short, Michael’s life was dynamic and effervescent. No matter what he did, he bubbled with enthusiasm and passion to do it better. Always a gentle way, a bright smile, and an encouraging word for everyone. He had a passion for volunteering and teaching, so contributed whenever he could, in every community he called home, Lethbridge, Medicine Hat, Bindloss, and Burdette.

Born in Calgary, AB. He was the first born of Neal Alvin O’Shea of Mayerthorpe, AB and Louise Marlene O’Shea (nee Thibert) of Sangudo, AB, and he would become the older bother to Maureen and Kellie.  His dad, Neal, worked as a Master Electrician for a large oil corporation, so Michael spent his first 15 years traveling around Alberta. He would recount his love for the wild to his adventures in Rainbow Lake and Rocky Mountain House. In 1972, Neal began his own businesses, bringing the family to Pincher Creek, Fort McLeod, Waterton Park and finally Lethbridge. Michael graduated from Lethbridge Collegiate Institute (1975) and received his B.Sc. from the University of Lethbridge (1979). 

He was actively involved with the naturalist events at the Helen Schuler Centre and became a reliable bird watcher, spending time with many seasoned birders. Michael was a volunteer with Big Brothers and Lethbridge Handicap Riders Association. He was a member of the Lethbridge Toast Masters and a founding member of the Nexus youth group, which sang and performed at small churches around Lethbridge.

From 1979 to 1984 Michael worked for the Government of Alberta on invasive and aquatic plant species, raptor research, and so much more.  Michael trained as a cold-water diver, diving in irrigation ditches throughout southern Alberta.  This led to diving trips to many mountain lakes, the BC coast and even Reno Lake, Nevada. After being asked to speak to local high school students about his varied research projects, Michael realized his skills as a teacher, and returned to the U of L from 1984 to 1986 to get his B. Ed. During this time, he also met his wife, Marie. They married in June 1986.

His first three year of teaching were with SD76. He would teach at Connaught School, Vincent Massey, Alexander Jr. High, and Medicine Hat High School. In 1989, with 3 years of teaching under his belt, a purchased house, and the birth of his first daughter Kealey, Michael looked for something more permanent.  Donna Minor called his attention to a position with Cypress School Division, in Bindloss, AB. Within a few days, he would be moving the family to his first permanent teaching position.  His daughter Meagan was born in 1990, making his family complete. While in Bindloss, he involved himself with the Southeastern Alberta Teacher’s Convention (SEATCA) committee, filling various positions including Chair. 

Cypress School Division morphed into Prairie Rose School Division, and in 1995 Michael took a position in Burdette, AB. In 1998 Michael joined the science teaching team at Eagle Butte High School. In addition to his teaching duties, he volunteered with student groups DV8 and the Astronomy club.  He also spent many hours helping the young Student Union Treasurers. He would retire from Eagle Butte in June 2014. 

In his lifetime, Michael had many hobbies. Photography, astronomy, camping, hiking, racket sports, swimming, and biking were all big hobbies for Michael.  He, along with others, would trek into the mountains around Crowsnest Pass and Waterton Park routinely. The most notable hobby was his love of birds.  His contributions of rare bird sightings and nesting information was added to an edition of the Sibley’s Birds of Alberta book. Many hours of bird counts, breeding bird surveys, and daily treks to bird watch with other members of the Grassland’s Naturalist group were recorded by Michael.  He held many positions within the Grasslands group, and the Federation of Alberta Naturalists. In 2007 he received the Civic Recognition Award for Environment from the City of Medicine Hat.  

His love for birding and the environment was equaled by his love of music. Music was always Michael’s favorite expression of faith. He played guitar, sang, and later learned how to play drums during his time in Bindloss.  He taught music to his elementary students in Bindloss and Burdette.  He was the worship leader for several churches until his skills began to abandon him.  In the absence of music, Michael became involved with the drama productions at the Church of Nazarene, and he was so proud of his final character in Dec 2013, as he knew he was having trouble remembering his lines.

Please join the family for Michael’s Celebration of Life service and reception at the Glenview Church of Nazarene (4072 Strachan Rd SE, Medicine Hat, AB) on June 11th at 1:30 pm.  The family asks that everyone wear colour, to celebrate the energy and enthusiasm Michael had for life.